A 32-year-old triathlete from Argentina drowned in the Hudson River this morning, marring the annual New York endurance race.
The man had completed about 1,250 meters of swimming leg and was about 250 meters from shore when he began to struggle, according to race director Bill Burke.
Rescuers plucked him out of the water near Pier 20 just before 8 a.m. and put him on a boogie board hooked up to jet ski, according to law enforcement sources and Burke.
“He was unconscious … they started doing CPR on him,” said Burke.
The athlete was pronounced dead at St. Luke’s Hospital.
Race and law enforcement officials declined to immediately identify the fallen athlete, pending notification of family in Argentina.
The Nautica New York City Triathlon began at 7:30 a.m. at West 99th Street with the swim ending at 81st Street.
An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow, said Medical Examiner spokeswoman Ellen Borakove.
Sadly, it was the second U.S. death of a triathlete in a month.
Jim Goodman, 46, of Urbandale, Iowa, died on June 22 during the Hy-Vee Triathlon in Des Moines.
Goodman was about 150 meters from finishing the swim third of the race, when he motioned for help and had to be pulled from the water.
Additional reporting by David K. Li